Party to bring together former Bosco Youth Club members in Leamington

Bernie Cuffe will turn 65 on the same day as the Queen turns 90 this year - but in place of receiving presents and cards, she is throwing a soul music disco to raise funds for the Royal Star and Garter Homes for former military personnel.

And in particular, she is hoping that the boys and girls who were members of a youth club she helped to form will show up on the night.

Bernie said: “A group of us started a youth club at St Peter’s church hall in Leamington in 1965 and we started having bands playing and organising scooter rallies.

“We then moved to the Cav in Warwick, until it closed in the mid-1970s. It was the best time of our lives - loads of mates and great fun for us 16 to 20-year-olds!

“I am now reaching out to those boys and girls to come along to my party. It’s going to be an original vinyl soul disco with DJs Martin John and Ski.”

Bernie is hoping to raise at least £500 from the party. She said: “I did the same thing for my 40th birthday and raised well over £500 for Leukeamia Research in support of a little boy who lived opposite me who had leukeamia.”

Bernie’s Big Birthday Soul Disco Bash will take place at St Patrick’s Irish Club in Adelaide Road, Leamington, on April 15 from 7.30pm to 12am. Tickets cost £6.50 (free for children), which includes a jacket potato and filling. To book tickets, call Bernie on 07909 566866 or email [email protected]

The Royal Star and Garter Homes have two sites, in Solihull and Surrey, where nursing and therapeutic care is provided to former military personnel. To find out more, visit starandgarter.org